Chidambaram inaugurates 60th Police Games

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) The 60th All India Police Games (AIPG) began at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Monday with union Home Minister P. Chidambaram inaugurating the five-day event.

The event, organised by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), will see around 1,500 to 1,600 police participants from 31 teams, including 24 teams of state police and seven from paramilitary forces, fight for top honours in the five games - wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, judo and gymnastics.

Inspector Anil Kumar, gold medallist in wrestling in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and Samresh Jung, who won five gold medals, one silver and one bronze in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, are some of the high-profile athletes who will be seen in action at the event.

"The championship is being organised under the aegis of All India Police Sports Control Board and CISF has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the Games which will go on between March 26-30," Arun Chaudhary, special director general of CISF, said.

Five states - Sikkim, Bihar, Kerala, Arunanchal Pradesh and Tripura - are not participating in the games, said his colleague, CISF Director General Rajiv.

Replying to a question over doping tests facility during AIPG, Rajiv said around 200 to 250 officials from the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) and other sports authorities would organise the whole event as per international standards.

This will be the first time after the Commonwealth Games that the two indoor stadiums - the Indira Gandhi stadium and the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium - will be used as a venue for these games.